Device for locking and extracting a centrifugal casting shell and removing the cast part from the shell

ABSTRACT

Device for locking a shell in, or extracting the shell from, a sleeve of a centrifugal casting machine for casting tubular parts. The device has tong means for extracting the part which are connected to an extracting carriage movable in the axial extension of the sleeve. Locking means for locking the shell in the sleeve are combined with a head having a flange and connected to move axially with the shell. Hooking members pivotably mounted with respect to the carriage cooperate with the flange and are adapted to exert a push or a pull on the head and shell for respectively locking or unlocking the shell. The extracting carriage also carries counter-support abutments for the sleeve.

United States Patent Bouyt Inventor: .Iean Roger Bouyt, Fumel, FranceCentre De Recherches De Pont-A-Mousson, Maidieres, Pont-A-Mousson,France Feb. 1, 1971 Assignee:

Filed:

App], No.:

Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 4, 1970 France ..7003938 u.s. c1..l64/292, 164/295, 164/341,

- l64/344, 164/404 1m. (:1 ..B22d 13/10 Field ofSearch ..l64/292, 295,341, 344, 404

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1929 Ladd ..l64/404 1451 May16, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 504,420 8/1930 Germany..l64/344 180,663 1/1955 Austria ..l64/344 Primary Examiner-Robert D.Baldwin Attorney-J. Delattre-Seguy [57] ABSTRACT Device for locking ashell in, or extracting the shell from, a sleeve of a centrifugalcasting machine for casting tubular parts. The device has tong means forextracting the part which are connected to an extracting carriagemovable in the axial extension of the sleeve. Locking means for lockingthe shell in the sleeve are combined with a head having a flange andconnected to move axially with the shell. Hooking members pivotablymounted with respect to the carriage cooperate with the flange and areadapted to exert a push or a pull on the head and shell for respectivelylocking or unlocking the shell. The extracting carriage also carriescounter-support abutments for the sleeve.

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DEVICE FOR LOCKING AND EXTRACTING A CENTRIFUGAL CASTING SHELL ANDREMOVING THE CAST PART FROM THE SHELL The present invention relates tothe extraction of centrifugally cast tubular parts and more particularlyto a device for locking a casting shell to and extracting the castingshell from a shell-carrying sleeve and for removing the cast part. Thisdevice is particularly applicable to the casting of liners of internalcombustion engines.

It is known that the centrifugal casting of engine liners is carried outin shells or moulds which are mounted inside arotary shell-carryingsleeve and arranged to rotate with the latter. Owing to their shortlength, the liners are often cast in pairs in the form ofa part capableof affording the two liners in twin shells disposed in end-to-endrelation. In this arrangement, if one of the shells has a projectionextending across the axial path of removal of the cast part from theshell, the cast part cannot be removed directly. It is first necessaryto extract this shell from the rotary sleeve in order to be in aposition to remove the cast part from the extracted shell.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved device for lockinga shell to a rotary support sleeve so that the shell rotates with thesleeve, unlocking the shell for extracting it, extracting the shell andremoving the cast part.

The invention provides a device which is applicable to a shell having aprojection precluding removal of the cast part at the end of the shellfrom which the shell is extracted but allowing the removal of the castpart at the other end of this shell and is of the type having innerextracting tongs for extracting the cast tubular part and an extractingcarriage movable in the axial extension of a sleeve carrying the shell,wherein the locking members for locking the shell in the sleeve arecombined with a head which is axially integral with the shell andprovided with a flange co-operating with push and pull hooks capable ofacting on the flange for locking and unlocking the shell, said hooksbeing pivoted to the extracting carriage which carries counter-supportabutments for the sleeve carrying the shell.

According to the invention, the shell is locked very reliably by thepivoted hooks and unlocked in a definite and reliable manner by the samehooks and with the aid of a counter-support on the shell-carryingsleeve. This arrangement results in a smooth production procedurelending itself to an automatic production system on a'turntable ormoulding line owing to the fact that the shell is always mountedtorotate and extracted correctly.

The invention is particularly applicable to centrifugal casting machineshaving a rotarysleeve carrying twin shells placed in end-to-end relationfor casting apart which extends in the two shells and is such that thepart is capable of affording two engine liners.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe ensuing description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal sectional view of a deviceaccording to the invention in the locking position;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 and shows the device in theshell-unlocking and extracting position, and I FIGS. 4 and 5 arediagrams on a scale smaller than that of the FIGS. 1-3, illustrating thestages of extraction and removal of a cast tubular part.

In the illustrated embodiment, the invention is applied to a centrifugalcasting machine comprising a sleeve A supporting shells or moulds andmounted on rollers B and driven in rotation at a speed for centrifugalcasting, and an extracting carriage C movable in the extension of theaxis of the sleeve A.

Mounted in the sleeve A are twin shells or moulds l and 1 in end-to-endrelation and adjoining in a median transverse which are separated,'afterremoval from the shells,by severing along the transverse'plane Y-Y. Theshell 1 has, at the end thereof adjacent the extracting carriage C, aflange 2 which extends inwardly and defines one of the end faces of thepart D and thus "precludes the direct removal of the part D in thedirection toward the carriage C.

This extracting carriage C has a cylinder device 3 for shifting anextracting means having jaws 4 which are capable of spreading apart ormoving towards each other inside the cast double liner D.

A tubular connecting member or head 5 is fixed axially to the shell 1"by means of screws 6. This head comprises a trapezoidal outer recess 7into 'which radial locking fingers 8 are capable of extending. Thefingers 8 extend through the sleeve A and are biased in the direction ofthe axis XX by the action of springs, such as 8. The head 5 alsocomprises a flange 9 on which push and pull forces may be exerted in theaxial direction by a system which will now be described.

Fixed to the cylinder device 3 are two pairs of twin arms 10. Thesepairs of arms are symmetrically arranged with respect to the axis XX.Pivoted near the end of each arm 10 is a U- shaped hook 11 whose endsconstitute two fingers l l and 11 which are located on each side of theflange 9 of the head 5. The hooks are pivoted in pairs on a pin 12carried by the two arms 10 of a pair of arms. The carriage C alsocarries a pair of cylinder devices 13 which are arranged symmetricallywith respect to the axis X--X and adapted to turn the hooks 11 abouttheir pins 12 through shifting arms 14 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

Mounted at the end of the extracting device 3 through at least one arm15 is a ring 16 having an axis XX. Extending axially through the ring 16are fingers 17 which are adapted to exert a thrust on the flange 9 ofthe head and are capable of being shifted by end fingers 11 of the hooks'11.

Each arm 10 terminates beyond the pivotal connection 12 in an abutment18 which constitutes a counter-support for the sleeve A.

The device operates in the following manner:

To cast the part D corresponding to two liners, the shells or moulds 1and 1" are placed inside the sleeve A and the head 5 integral with theshell 1" is locked in position by the radial fingers 8 which are urgedinto recess 7 by the action of their springs 8". The latter resist theeffect of centrifugal forces produced by the rotation of the sleeve A.The carriage C, carrying the tongs having the jaws 4, the hooks 11, thethrust fingers 17 and the counter-support abutment 18, is withdrawn,that is, shifted away from the centrifugal casting machine and thus fromthe sleeve A, to permit the introduction of the molten metal in theshells 1", 1".

After the metal has been poured, the carriage C is shifted towards thesleeve A for the purpose of unlocking and extracting the shell 1 and thecast part D, the shell 1' remaining inside the sleeve A.

After having stopped the rotation of the sleeve A and moved theextracting carriage C towards this sleeve, the cylinder device 3 issupplied with fluid under pressure in such manner as to spread apart thejaws 4 of the extracting tongs (FIG. 3) Thus the cast part D is renderedintegral with the shell 1" and can be extracted at the same time as theshell 1".

The cylinder devices 13 are supplied in such manner as to tilt the hooks11 in such direction that their ends 1 1 exert an extracting thrust onthe flange 9 of the head 5.

The carriage C of course remains stationary and the counter-supportabutments 18 are applied against the ends of the sleeve A.

Thus, the tilting of the hooks 11 exert an unlocking or extracting forceon the flange 9 of the head 5. This thrust causes the radial lockingfingers 8 to move out of the locking recess 7 while the axial fingers 17are urged back by the flange 9 of the head 5. This flange is thenapplied against the ring 16 and rendered rigidly secured to theextracting carriage C. The shell 1 and the part D are also renderedintegral with the carriage C.

The extracting stage now starts (FIGS. 3, 4 and In moving rearwardly,the carriage C disengages the head 5 and the shell 1 and the part D fromthe sleeve A (FIG. 3) while the shell 1" remains in the latter (FIG. 4).This is possible since the shell 1 has no inner projection preventingmovement of the part D. This part D, which is completely disengaged fromthe shell 1 is then seized by a tongs P while the cylinder device 3 issupplied in such manner as to release the jaws 4 (FIG. 4). The carriageC continues to travel rearwardly while the part D is gripped by thefixed tongs P. This results in the complete disengagement of the part Dfrom the shell 1. The part D is completely stripped of its shell ormould (FIG. 5). The part D held by the tongs P is discharged by ahandling device (not shown).

To cast another part D, the extracting carriage C is moved towards thesleeve A so as to introduce the shell 1.

The extracting cylinder device 3 is supplied in such manner that thejaws 4 remain close together (FIG. 1). The cylinder devices 13 firstremain supplied in such manner as to cause the ends 11 of the hooks 11to apply the flange 9 of the head 5 against the ring 16 and support thehead 5 and the shell 1 and cause them to move in translation with thecarriage C. When the abutments l8 abut the head 5, the carriage C stops.In this position (FIG. 3), the head 5 is not yet locked. The cylinderdevices 13 are then supplied in such manner as to turn the hooks 11 insuch direction that their ends 11 exert a thrust on the fingers 17. Thislocking thrust is transmitted to the flange 9 of the head 5 (FIG. 1).The recess 7 of the head is then in alignment with the radial lockingfingers 8 which first resiliently withdrew, in opposition to the actionof their return springs 8, to pass over the circular crest defining theinner end of the recess 7 and then move radially forward into the recess7 under the action of the springs 8. At this moment, the shell 1 islocked in position by the head 5 and the radial fingers 8. Theextracting carriage C can then once more withdraw in moving rearwardlyso as to make way for the molten metal pouring device.

Owing to the combination of the radial fingers 8 and the recess 7 of thehead 5, the shell 1 is locked in position and the locking and unlockingoperations can be carried out since the trapezoidal shape of the recess7, combined with the rounded shape of the ends of the radial fingers 8,enables the ends of the latter to pass over the annular crest definingthe inner end of the recess 7.

Owing to the structure comprising the combination of the flanged head 5,the pivoted hooks 11, the support ring 16 and the counter-supportabutments 18 on the sleeve A, the operations for introducing, locking,unlocking and extracting the shell 1 are carried out in a reliablemechanical manner and which lends itself to an automatic system.

Owing to the simultaneous extraction of the shell 1 and part D (FIG. 3),there is no risk of the wall of this part D being deformed (even if itis thin) by the jaws 4 of the extracting tongs since it is supportedexternally by the shell 1.

Note that the thrust fingers 17 transmit an axial thrust force to thehead 5.

Having now described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

l. A device for selectively locking a shell in and extracting the shellfrom a casting machine centrifugally casting tubular parts and forremoving the cast part from said shell, said shell having an internalprojection precluding direct extraction of said cast part from saidshell, said device comprising inner extracting tong means capable ofengaging and extracting the cast tubular part, a sleeve for mounting onsaid machine and in which said shell is slidably mounted, means definingan extracting carriage movable in an axial extension of said sleeve, ahead connected to said shell to move axially with said shell and havinga flange, locking means cooperative with said head for locking saidshell in said sleeve for casting said part, push and pull hooking meanscooperative with said flange for locking and unlocking said shell withrespect to said sleeve,

said hooking meansbeing pivoted to said extractin carriagecounter-support axial abutment means for said s eeve an mounted on saidcarriage.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking means are radialfingers engageable in an annular recess in said head.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hooking means areU-shaped members having two end fingers located on each side of saidflange, one end finger being operative for pulling said head and theother end finger being operative for pushing said head.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising in axial extension of andin spaced relation to said extracting carriage a support ring which isfixed with respect to said carriage and is in coaxial relation to saidsleeve and to said head, and thrust members for transmitting the push ofsaid pushing fingers to said flange extending through said ring, saidthrust members being parallel to the axis of said ring.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising arms fixed in cantileverfashion to said extracting carriage, said arms carrying saidcounter-support abutment means for axially supporting said sleeve, saidhooking means comprising members which are pivoted to said arms and havesecond arms connected to cylinder devices mounted on the extractingcarriage and capable of pivoting said second arms.

1. A device for selectively locking a shell in and extracting the shellfrom a casting machine centrifugally casting tubular parts and forremoving the cast part from said shell, said shell having an internalprojection precluding direct extraction of said cast part from saidshell, said device comprising inner extracting tong means capable ofengaging and extracting the cast tubular part, a sleeve for mounting onsaid machine and in which said shell is slidably mounted, means definingan extracting carriage movable in an axial extension of said sleeve, ahead connected to said shell to move axially with said shell and havinga flange, locking means cooperative with said head for locking saidshell in said sleeve for casting said part, push and pull hooking meanscooperative with said flange for locking and unlocking said shell withrespect to said sleeve, said hooking means being pivoted to saidextracting carriage, counter-support axial abutment means for saidsleeve and mounted on said carriage.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1,wherein said locking means are radial fingers engageable in an annularrecess in said head.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidhooking means are U-shaped members having two end fingers located oneach side of said flange, one end finger being operative for pullingsaid head and the other end finger being operative for pushing saidhead.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising in axial extensionof and in spaced relation to said extracting carriage a support ringwhich is fixed with respect to said carriage and is in coaxial relationto said sleeve and to said head, and thrust members for transmitting thepush of said pushing fingers to said flange extending through said ring,said thrust members being parallel to the axis of said ring.
 5. A deviceas claimed in claim 1, comprising arms fixed in cantilever fashion tosaid extracting carriage, said arms carrying said counter-supportabutment means for axially supporting said sleeve, said hooking meanscomprising members which are pivoted to said arms and have second armsconnected to cylinder devices mounted on the extracting carriage andcapable of pivoting said second arms.